Forest and wild fires in Israel

24 Nov. 2016 -

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Last updated: 28 Nov. 2016 10:11

Some sixty thousand people were evacuated from their homes in Haifa on Thursday 24 November as a wave of wildfires threatened the bay metropolis, bolstered by high winds and dry conditions that have contributed to a spate of blazes across the country this week. Residents of a total of 11 neighborhoods in the city were told to leave their homes, as fires in at least five locations consumed homes and businesses. By late afternoon, more than 100 people in the Haifa area had been treated for fire-related injuries, mostly smoke inhalation.

EADRCC has received on 24 November 2016 a request for information on nations’ fixed wing aerial firefighting capabilities for extinguishing the forest and wild fires in Israel.

Israel continues to battle fires in different parts of the country on Friday 25 November, with outbreaks reported in Beit Meir in the Jerusalem hills, near Kiryat Gat in the South of the country, next to Harashim in the Galilee, and near the Carmel Government Hospital in Haifa.

Fires continued to burn in different parts of Israel Saturday morning, 26 November 2016. The situation was more under control but due to the dry and windy weather conditions that are not expected to change for the next three days, there are fears new blazes would spread. In Jerusalem area the emergency responders largely managed to contain the flames, pushing them away from homes, though fires in Nataf and Halamish still have not been controlled. In Haifa, the fire has been contained. Residents of the northern communities of Harashim and Har Halutz have been allowed to return to their homes after fires in the Galilee region were also contained.​

On Monday, 27 November 2016, the forest and wild fires in Israel are under control.